440 Emma Carmichael ~ Road Trip Adventures in the Balkans

I'm excited to introduce this week's guest, Emma Carmichael. I first met Emma in the London Indie Authors Meetup Group (https://www.meetup.com/London-Indie-Authors/), where I found out about her adventures, particularly the one we discuss today. In 2009, Emma quit her job and bought a classic Serbian car, which she drove in a huge circle around the Balkans.

 

This adventure is unlike anything else we’ve discussed on this show. It’s also unlike any trip I’ve ever been on. I hope Emma’s journey inspires you to come up with your own wild adventures.

 

About Emma Carmichael

Born in Edinburgh. Lived in Edinburgh, London, Sydney, Strasbourg, Pristina, Sarajevo and now back in London for now. Traveller, podcaster, writer - not particularly in that order! Worked as a Conservation Building Surveyor for Historic Royal Palaces from 1995-2004 Worked for the Council of Europe, involved with post-conflict conservation and cultural heritage from 2004-2009 Travelled the Balkans in a vintage Zastava 750 from August-October 2009 Wrote the first draft of Driving Tito in 2010 while living in Strasbourg, France Moved to Sarajevo in Bosnia & Herzegovina worked on a cultural heritage programme for the town of Vares. 2011-2012 Returned to the UK in 2012 and opened my bookshop Travelling Through in 2014-2019. Published Driving Tito in June 2019 Began podcasting in 2020 to present day Travelled solo, in groups, with my partner, with my sister, my family, my brother and/or with a friend. Each experience is different. Each notable in its own way. Each can be enjoyable or a nightmare - it's a mindset thing. It's about compromise even when travelling alone!

 

WALKED: a section of the St Jacques de Compostella from Le Puy en Velay to Conques; the Mozarabe Camino, Portuguese Camino, the Coast to Coast (UK), Hadrian's Wall Walk

TRAVELLED to: Round the world ticket when 22yrs old for 20 months. Partly with a friend / and solo.

Separate trips to: Russia/Mongolia - Vietnam - Argentina/Chile - Brazil - Colombia - many parts of Europe.

RUNNING: love 5km runs; ran half-marathon in Stockholm, Sweden (never again!)

CYCLING: still have my bicyle from when I was 14yrs old - who needs more than five gears? Cycled many of the Scottish isles. Cycling cities of Strasbourg and Amsterdam.

 

Travelling Through is a concept, whether it be a place, a community, or life. It's how we respond instinctively to this constant state of movement that's important to our well-being.

 

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What You'll Learn

What inspired Emma to quit her job and drive around the Balkans in a Serbian Zastava 750 car What it was like to drive a classic car around the Balkans How Emma traveled around tiny villages without speaking the local languages How Emma remembered all the details from the adventure so she could write her book Emma’s top tips for a Balkan adventure

 

Things We Discussed

Zastava 750 car  Vellum for publishing 

 

Related Episodes

438 Jenny Mowbray ~ Solo Travel + Adventure When You're in a Relationship 433 Robert Twigger ~ How Adventure Satisfies Our Need for Childlike Play (now with downloadable transcript!) 383 Anne Malambo ~ How Solo Travel Can Change Our Lives (now with downloadable transcript!) 374 Holly Worton ~ How Outdoors Adventures + Travel Help With Digital Detox (now with downloadable transcript!) 367 Holly Worton ~ Finding Yourself Through Solo Travel and Outdoor Adventures (now with downloadable transcript!)

 

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